Cons

Fee for valet parking

No coffee machines in rooms

Beach is an eight-minute walk

Bottom Line

The 353-room Modern Honolulu is a chic hotel catering to youthful guests with its gorgeous outdoor pools with live music, bars, and lounging areas. This is a luxury property with lots of amenities, including a spa, exercise room, and lobby bar along with some extra notable features including a trendy nightclub and Iron Chef-endorsed sushi restaurant. Rooms are fresh, white, and beachy; some have balconies with water views. The beach is an eight-minute walk away. Guests looking for something closer to the water may want to consider The Royal Hawaiian which is right on the beach.

Oyster Hotel Review

The Modern Honolulu is a posh hotel where the young and fabulous are greeted with a warm towel and cool beverage upon arrival. The funky music playing in the lobby adds a certain buzz to the atmosphere. Outside guests lounge on white hotel rafts in the infinity pool surrounded by palm trees and sand and drink coconut mojitos at one of the outdoor bars. Inside, Morimoto Restaurant offers sushi in a bright, chic setting and the trendy Study bar offers cul-de-sacs of couches creating a VIP-worthy effect. Guests can get their nails done at the spa and nail salon for a big night at Addiction, the nightclub inside the hotel that has DJs and bottle service. The overall atmosphere is chic and exclusive.

On busy Ala Moana Boulevard near Kahanamoku Beach and the Hawaii Convention Center

The hotel is located on Ala Moana Boulevard near the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort. There are several nearby conveniences including Starbucks and an ABC convenience store. Kahanamoku Beach is an eight-minute walk away. The Ala Moana Shopping Center is a nine-minute walk, and the main stretch of Kalakaua Avenue with plenty of dining and shopping options is a 12-minute walk. The Hawaii Convention Center is also within walking distance, making it an easy commute for business travelers. There’s also a bus stop in front of the hotel making it easy to access other areas of Honolulu.

Opulent pools have live music, lounge chairs, and shaded daybeds. In addition to the signature cocktails, there are salads and small plates available for purchase. Inside, the gift shops sells bathing suits and T-shirts. There’s a free coffee/tea station in the lobby in the mornings. The fitness center has a variety of exercise machines and the spa offers facials and massages. There is a Morimoto restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating serving excellent sushi.